Container and opener.



1. RICE. CONTAINER AND OPENER. APPLICATION HLED IAN-3|. me.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

E lllllllllllllll n\ JOSEPH RICE, 01 CHIGAEQ, ILLINOIS.

CONTAINER AND OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 191 '7.

Application filed January 31, 1918. Serial No. 75,219.

To all wkcm itmayconcem:

Be it known that I, JosErr-I RICE, a citizen of the United States residing at Ghi cago, county of Cook, an" State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Containers and Openers, of which "the following is a specification.

My invention relates to containers and openers therefor, and has for its object, the provision of a container adapted to hold confections and the like, which is simple of construction, efficient in use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. A further object, is the provision of a simple and eflieient opener for the container. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

An embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing formiaig a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1, is a View, in perspective, of a container embodying my invention and haw ing its cover partly seyered.

Figs. 2 and 8, are fragmental perspective views of the container shown at difierent stages of the opening process.

Fig. 4, is .a. fragmental section showing the position of the opening member and parts of the walls of the container.

Fig. 5, is a similar View, but showing the opening string secured in a different manner and position from that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section showing the string opener secured in a different position than that shown in Fig. 5'; and,

Fig. 7, is a longitudinal section of a slightly modified form of container without an opening means.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the container preferably comprises a frame 10, of a relatively stiff substance, such as cardboard or the like, with a covering 11, of thin flexible material, such .as waxed paper or the like. The cardboard {frame is preferably of a single elongated sheet bent and forming a vbase 12, top sheet 13, an end wall 14, and an end wall comprising portions 15 and 16. With this arrangement, the frame extends over four of the sides of the container. The two remaining sides of the container are covered only by the covering 11. The covering 11, is wrapped around a frame and secured by an agglutinant in any preferred or conventional manner to seal the container.

In one side of the container, I provide an opening means which may be a string 17, or any other suitable element. One end of the opening member 17, is formed in a loop 18, and engages notches 19, formed at the uneture of one of the portions 15 and 16, and the next adjacent side portion of the frame. I have shown notches 19, at the juncture between the portions 15 and 13, but said notches may be in any other preferred position, either in member 13 or 15. The opening member or string 17, is extended across the inner side of member 15, then through a slot 20, in one edge of said member, then between members 15 and 16, then through a. notch 22, in member 16, and then out through the covering 11, with its end 22:3 exposed, so that it is easily grasped to open the container.

In opening the container, the end 23 of the string or other opening member, is grasped and moved upwardly to tear the covering, as indicated at 21, in Fig. 1. This removes the string 17, from notch 22, leaving it free to pass around the edges of members 15 and 16, to tear the covering 11, across substantially three sides thereof, this tearing being indicated at 25, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In moving the string to effect the tearing on lines 25, the string moves through an arc of a circle having its center at notch 20, in member 15. After the lines 25 have been torn, the string is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, to move the portion 16 downwardly in opening the container. Af-

ter the member 16, is brought to this posi drawn as indicated in Fig. 3, which moves the member 15 upwardly to finish opening the container. Then upon lowering the open end of the container, the contents may be slid In Figs. 5 and 6, the string or opening member is secured to the portion 15. in a difierent manner than that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In Figs. 5 and 6, the string is provided with a knot 26, at its inner end portion which extends through a perforation 27 in end wall 15. The operation of the string or opener when secured in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is substantially the same as that in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

When s0 desired, a container may be made to operate very satisfactorily without the portion 16. In such a case. the opener or string 17 would have a position and operation substantially as already indicated.

tion, the string is therefrom by gravity.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a slightly modified form of container without an opening means. In this form, the frame is preferably made up of a single piece of cardboard, or other suitable material, extending around four sides of the container. The end portion 26 of the frame, is adapted to extend beyond the end of top sheet 27, in a manner to prevent the top sheet 27 from being passed over and beyond the top of end wall 26. A container of this form is adapted to hold relatively hard materials, such as caramels and the like, which are of a thickness equal to the height of the interior of the container. These articles and their wrappings vary slightly in widths, so that the container must be slightly longer than the total length of all of the articles in the package. In order to keep the package in parallelepiped form. the end wall 26 prevents the top sheet 27 from passing over the top of the end wall, and preventing the end walls 26 and 28, from getting out of parallel relation. This form of container, is also provided with a covering 30, of waxed paper or other suitable substance, in a manner similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form and constructions of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A container comprising a frame made up of relatively stifi portions, one of said portions being folded over another of the portions at one side of the container; a covering inclosing the frame; and an opening member secured to the inner of said folded portions, extending between said folded members and adapted to tear the covering and move the folded members to open the container.

2. A container comprising a frame made up of an elongated sheet of relatively stilt material disposed with its end portions overlapping in one Wall of the container; a covering inclosing the frame; and a string secured to one of the end portions of said wall, extending between the end portions of the sheet and adapted to tear the covering and move the end open the container.

3. A container comprising a frame made up of an elongated sheet of cardboard disposed with its end portions overlapping each other in one wall of the container; a covering inclosing the frame; and a string secured to one of the end portions of the card board, extending between the end portions of said cardboard and adapted to tear the cover and move the end portions of the cardboard, there being notches in the ends of said cardboard facilitating the operation of the string in tearing the covering.

4. ,1 container comprising a frame made up of an elongated sheet of relatively stiff material disposed with its end portions overlapping in and substantially co-extensive with one wall of the container; a cover inclosing the frame; and a string secured to the innermost of the end portions of the frame, extending around one edge of the innermost of the overlapping end portions, then between the end portions and across the outermost of said overlapping end portions with its end extending through the cover providing means for severing the cover and moving the end portions from their overlapping positions to open the container.

5. A container comprising a frame made up of an elongated sheet of material dis posed substantially co-extensive with four walls of the container and having its end portions overlapping in one of said walls, said end portions being adapted to swing away from each other to open the container; a cover inclosing said frame and forming the other two walls of the container; and a flexible opening member secured to the innermost of the overlapping end portions of the elongated sheet and extending out through the cover for severing the cover and unfolding said overlapping end portions to open the container.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 29th day of January, A. D. 1916.

JOSEPH RICE.

portions of the sheet to IVitnesses:

CHARLES H. SEEM, THOMAS CoLsoN.

Ooplel o2 thll patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0!. Patents, Wmhlnzton, D. 0." 

